Our Staff

Fidel Leal was born in Cuba, where he started studying piano at the age of seven. He received his Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude in 2013 from the Higher Institute of

B.M.E. Illinois Wesleyan University. Aaron is a Music Educator currently teaching Elementary Music in Elgin, Illinois. He received his Bachelor of Music Education, concentrating in voice, from Illinois Wesleyan University, graduating in

M.M., Yale School of Music, B.M., Cleveland Institute of Music.  Alexa has performed extensively in the United States, Canada, England, France, Germany, Hungary, and Lithuania, and is an active orchestral and chamber

B.M., Columbia College Chicago. Andrew began studying the guitar at the age of 12 under the instruction of Jim Konsbruck. While at Columbia College Andrew studied composition with Philip Seward, orchestration with

B.A., Loyola University, Chicago. Audie received his B.A. in music from Loyola University Chicago, where his emphasis was in vocal performance. He has sung both as a soloist and chorister in everything from

B.M. Northern Illinois University While growing up in Geneva Illinois, Casey Nielsen began studying classical guitar with Roosevelt University professor, Paul Henry. Soon discovering a love for jazz music he began lessons

M.M Yale University, B.M. Peabody Conservatory. Christopher has performed extensively across North America and around the world. Under the sponsorship of the United States Information Service, Christopher Laughlin has toured in 25

B.M.E., University of Nebraska, M.M., De Paul University.  Cory Biggerstaff received a Bachelors degree in Music Education from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. After teaching in Lincoln Public Schools for a

B.S.S., Northwestern University. Deanne Turim is a professional musical theatre performer, graduating with a theatre degree from Northwestern University, and a full year of theatre studies in London, England.   In London she

(B. M., Berklee College of Music) is a two-time Downbeat Award winner. Gary began playing drums at the age of four. He received the Berklee Achievement Scholarship, the Berklee Achievement Grant, and

D.M.A., M.M.A. and M.M., Yale University. B.A. University of Chicago.  Dr. Keith Murphy has taught piano at the Laughlin School since 2008 and previously taught piano and accompanied middle and high school students

B.M., Eastman School of Music, M.M., Yale Univsersity Canadian Cellist Kimberly Jeong loves to play music and to perform for anyone with open ears. She strongly believes in the inherent power of music and

M.M. Northwestern University, B.M. University of Texas, Austin. Min studied violin performance and pedagogy at Northwestern under the guidance of Almita Vamos. and Violin at University of Texas at Austin under Brian

M.M. Northwestern University, B.M. DePaul University. Valentina studied violin at Northwestern University with Gerardo Ribeiro and at DePaul University with Olga Kaler. Valentina began her musical journey in Miami, Florida at the

B.M., Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, M.M., Cleveland Institute of Music Weiwen Ma is a native of Shanghai, China. As a young child she was invited to perform numerous concerts at China’s

Marisa Pickard is currently a master’s student at DePaul University studying piano performance with George Vatchnadze. She is originally from Birmingham, Alabama, and moved to the Chicago area in July 2020. For